Direct Answer: What is the 2026 IND minimum salary for MVV partner sponsorship?
To bring your foreign partner or spouse to the Netherlands on an MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) visa in 2026, the IND requires the Dutch sponsor (referent) to earn a gross minimum salary (SV-wage) of € 2,337.00 per month (excluding 8% holiday allowance) or € 2,523.96 per month (including 8% holiday allowance). These statutory thresholds apply from July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, benchmarked to 100% of the Dutch statutory minimum wage.
Understanding the IND Sponsor Income Requirement for Family Reunification
When you apply for an MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) to bring your foreign spouse, registered partner, or unmarried partner to the Netherlands, the IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst) requires you, the Dutch sponsor (referent), to act as the financial guarantor.
The legal purpose of this requirement is straightforward: the Dutch government wants to ensure that the couple can financially sustain themselves without claiming municipal social assistance (bijstand under the Participatiewet).
To succeed, your income must meet three strict legal criteria:
- Independent (Zelfstandig): Earned through formal employment or business profits on which taxes and social security contributions have been paid. Social assistance benefits never count as independent income.
- Sufficient (Voldoende): Meeting or exceeding the official statutory minimum income norm set by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW).
- Sustainable (Duurzaam): Guaranteed to continue for a legally specified minimum duration (usually at least 12 months from the date of IND application receipt).
Official 2026 Statutory Minimum Income Standards (Table)
The IND updates its statutory income thresholds twice a year (on January 1 and July 1), linked to the semi-annual revisions of the Dutch statutory minimum wage (Wet minimumloon).
For family formation and reunification (partner / spouse), the sponsor must earn at least 100% of the statutory minimum wage for adults age 21 and older, including 8% statutory holiday allowance (vakantietoeslag).
| Period / Standard | Gross Monthly Income (Excl. 8% Holiday Allowance) | Gross Monthly Income (Incl. 8% Holiday Allowance) |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026 | € 2,337.00 per month | € 2,523.96 per month |
| January 1, 2026 – June 30, 2026 | € 2,274.00 per month | € 2,455.92 per month |
Official Resource: The IND evaluates your salary against the norm amount in effect on the exact day your application is received. Always verify the latest figures on the official IND Income Requirements Page.
How Many Hours Must You Work at Minimum Wage?
Since the introduction of the statutory minimum hourly wage in the Netherlands, many sponsors ask whether a part-time job of 32 or 36 hours per week satisfies the IND income test:
- 40 Hours per Week: At the statutory minimum hourly wage, working 40 hours per week comfortably surpasses the monthly IND threshold.
- 36 Hours per Week: This is the standard full-time baseline used by the Ministry of Social Affairs (SZW). Working 36 hours per week at statutory minimum wage exactly meets the required monthly standard.
- 32 Hours per Week (or Less): If your contract is 32 hours per week at minimum wage, your earnings will fall short of the € 2,337.00 threshold. You can only qualify with 32 hours or fewer if your hourly rate is substantially higher than the legal minimum.
What Counts as SV-Wage (Sociale Verzekeringsloon) on Your Payslip?
When reviewing your payslip, the IND does not look at your net bank transfer, nor do they look solely at the base contractual wage. The IND evaluates your SV-Loon (Sociale Verzekeringsloon / Column Loon voor de loonheffing or Loon LH).
Why SV-Wage Differs from Base Salary:
- Contract Base Salary: The fixed monthly rate agreed upon in your employment contract.
- SV-Wage: Your base gross salary PLUS taxable structural allowances (such as structural irregular hours allowance, fixed shift pay, and guaranteed 13th month) MINUS pre-tax deductions (such as employee pension contributions).
Practical Payslip Check:
1. Locate the box marked "SV-loon", "Loon SV", or "Loon voor loonheffing" on your most recent payslip.
2. If your holiday pay is accrued monthly rather than paid out each month, multiply this figure by 1.08 (the 8% statutory holiday allowance).
3. If the resulting number is equal to or higher than € 2,523.96, your salary meets the IND threshold!
Allowances That Count (and Excluded Income That IND Rejects)
Income & Allowances That DO Count Towards the Threshold:
- Base gross salary (vast brutoloon)
- Guaranteed 13th month (dertiende maand / eindejaarsuitkering)
- Structural irregular hours allowance (onregelmatigheidstoeslag / ORT)
- Guaranteed structural commission or contractual bonuses
- Unemployment benefit (WW-uitkering) or Sickness benefit (ZW-uitkering) ONLY IF legally guaranteed for at least 12 months ahead
Income & Allowances That DO NOT Count (Rejected by IND):
- Non-structural, occasional overtime (incidenteel overwerk)
- Tax-free travel allowance (onbelaste reiskostenvergoeding)
- Expense allowances (onkostenvergoeding, such as work-from-home allowances)
- Social assistance or municipal welfare benefits (Bijstandsuitkering / Participatiewet)
- Student financing (DUO Studiefinanciering)
- Subsidies and tax credits (Toeslagen van de Belastingdienst like healthcare or rent allowance)
- Income from unregistered, undeclared, or cash-in-hand work
Common Misconceptions: Partner Income, Third-Party Guarantors & Cutoff Date
1. Does the foreign partner's income count towards the requirement?
One of the most frequent questions asked by sponsors is whether their partner's foreign income, remote work earnings, or prospective Dutch job offer can be combined with the sponsor's income. Under IND statutory rules, the answer is strictly no. For partner family reunification, the IND evaluates exclusively whether the sponsor residing in the Netherlands has sufficient, independent, and sustainable income. Foreign income does not count.
2. Can parents, family members, or friends act as financial guarantors?
Many couples confuse an MVV long-stay residence permit with a short-stay Schengen tourist visa (up to 90 days). For a tourist visa, parents or third parties are permitted to sign a financial guarantee. However, for a provisional residence permit (MVV), third-party sponsorship or parental guarantees are strictly prohibited by law. The Dutch sponsor must meet the financial standard individually through their own qualifying income.
3. Application Date vs. Decision Date: Which norm applies during indexation?
Because IND statutory norms change twice yearly (January 1 and July 1), couples frequently worry if an application submitted in June is decided in October after an indexation increase. The IND's binding policy rule is clear: the official receipt date of the application serves as the definitive reference date. If your complete application was received before July 1, the IND evaluates it against the first-half norm, even if the decision takes several months.
Statutory Exemptions: When Is the Sponsor Income Requirement Waived?
In specific situations recognized under Dutch immigration law and EU jurisprudence, the sponsor is fully exempt from meeting the monthly statutory norm (€ 2,337.00 / € 2,523.96):
1. State Pension (AOW) Age Reached
If you have reached the statutory Dutch retirement age and receive an AOW state pension, you are legally exempt from the sponsor income requirement for bringing your partner.
2. Permanent and Total Disability (IVA vs. WGA)
If you suffer from long-term illness or disability, your specific benefit classification is decisive:
- IVA Benefit (Full and Permanent Disability): If the UWV has assessed you as 80% to 100% permanently incapacitated with no prospect of recovery, you qualify for an income exemption.
- WGA Benefit or Sickness Benefit: A WGA benefit generally does not confer an automatic exemption, as the IND considers there is a legal presumption of potential medical recovery or future labor capacity.
3. The Chavez-Vilchez Route (Caregiving Parent of a Dutch Minor Child)
If the couple shares a minor child who holds Dutch (EU) citizenship, the foreign partner may invoke the landmark European Court judgment in Chavez-Vilchez. If you can prove that a genuine relationship of dependency exists between the foreign parent and the Dutch child, the application is fully exempt from both the sponsor income requirement and the A1 civic integration exam abroad.
The 3 Types of Employment Contracts & Sustainability Rules
Your contract type dictates how you must prove financial sustainability (duurzaamheid):
1. Permanent Employment Contract (Vast Contract / Onbepaalde Tijd)
- Rule: If you have a permanent contract and have completed your probationary period (proeftijd), your income is automatically considered sustainable by the IND.
- Required Proof: Employment contract, recent employer statement (werkgeversverklaring dated within 3 months), and your latest 3 monthly payslips (salarisstroken).
2. Temporary Employment Contract (Tijdelijk Contract / Bepaalde Tijd)
- Scenario A (Contract has ≥ 12 months remaining): If your temporary contract is still valid for at least 12 months on the exact day the IND receives your application, your income meets the sustainability requirement directly.
- Scenario B (Contract has < 12 months remaining): If your contract expires within 12 months, you must submit an Employer's Statement of Intent (Intentieverklaring) signed by your employer confirming their intention to extend your contract or make it permanent upon expiration.
- Scenario C (No Statement of Intent): If your employer will not provide an intent statement, you can still qualify under the 3-Year Historical Income Rule if you earned sufficient income across the preceding 3 calendar years (36 months) without receiving municipal social assistance.
3. Flexible & Agency Work (Uitzendkrachten) - Phase A, B, C
- Phase A / Flexible Agency Work: You must demonstrate a consistent earning history meeting the statutory threshold across the preceding 3 years (36 months) through annual statements (jaaropgaven) and payslips.
- Phase B / C (Fixed-term or Permanent Agency Contract): Evaluated identically to temporary (≥ 12 months) or permanent contracts.
4. Self-Employed & Freelancers (ZZP / Ondernemers)
- Rule: You must have operated your registered business (KvK) for at least 1 full financial year (preferably 3 years) and demonstrate net profit (winst uit onderneming) that meets the statutory monthly threshold.
- Required Proof: Annual accounts (jaarrekening), income tax returns, tax assessments (aanslagen inkomstenbelasting), and an official financial statement prepared and signed by a certified accountant (NOAB, NBA).
Using Savings and Personal Equity as an Income Source (IND Rule)
If your employment income falls slightly below the threshold or you are between contracts, the IND allows applicants under strict conditions to demonstrate personal equity or liquid savings (eigen vermogen) to meet the requirement.
Key Rules for Personal Equity:
- Minimum Required Amount: You must possess liquid equity equal to at least 36 times the monthly gross norm amount including holiday pay. For the second half of 2026, this equals: 36 × € 2,523.96 = € 90,862.56.
- Immediate Liquidity: Funds must be held in an unrestricted, immediately accessible bank account in the Netherlands or an EU/EEA financial institution (not tied up in real estate, illiquid stocks, or locked pension funds).
- Lawful Origin: You must prove the legal origin of the capital (such as proceeds from property sale, inheritance, or documented accumulated earnings).
What to Do if You Fall Just Below the Threshold: 4 Legal Solutions
- Request Additional Structural Hours: Ask your employer to increase your contractual hours (e.g., from 32 to 36 or 40 hours per week) with a signed formal addendum before filing your application.
- Convert Overtime into Fixed Contractual Hours: If you consistently work overtime, negotiate with your employer to incorporate those hours into your formal base contract.
- Combine Multiple Part-Time Jobs: You may combine income from two or more formal jobs, provided all employment contracts together meet the threshold and sustainability criteria.
- Await Your Annual Salary Increase or Collective Agreement (CAO) Rise: Submitting an application when you earn € 20,- below the threshold results in automatic rejection and loss of the IND application fee (€ 240,-). Wait until the salary increase formally takes effect.
Complete Financial Dossier Checklist for Your IND Application
Before submitting the digital MVV application on the IND portal, assemble these documents in PDF format:
- [ ] Fully signed permanent employment contract or temporary contract (valid for ≥ 12 months)
- [ ] Official Employer's Statement (Werkgeversverklaring), fully completed and dated within the last 3 months
- [ ] Last 3 consecutive monthly payslips (salarisstroken) displaying sufficient SV-wage
- [ ] Bank statements showing salary deposits matching the 3 payslips exactly
- [ ] (If applicable) Signed Employer's Statement of Intent (Intentieverklaring)
- [ ] (For ZZP / Freelancers) Annual accounts, KvK extract, and final tax assessments (definitieve aanslagen)
- [ ] (If using savings) Bank statements for the preceding 3 months showing at least € 90,862.56 in liquid equity
Frequently Asked Questions About IND Minimum Salary & Income Requirements
What is the 2026 IND minimum salary for MVV partner sponsorship?
From July 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, the IND requires a gross SV-wage of at least € 2,337.00 per month excluding holiday allowance, or € 2,523.96 per month including 8% holiday allowance. From January 1 through June 30, 2026, the threshold was € 2,274.00 excluding holiday allowance and € 2,455.92 including holiday allowance.
Does the IND look at base salary or SV-wage?
The IND strictly evaluates the SV-wage (social security wage / loon voor loonheffing), not your base contract salary or net bank deposit. The SV-wage accounts for taxable structural allowances (like 13th month or shift pay) and deductions like pension contributions.
Is a 32-hour or 36-hour contract enough to meet the IND requirement?
A 36-hour contract at statutory minimum wage meets the IND monthly threshold. However, a 32-hour contract at statutory minimum wage is not sufficient (€ 2,337.00 cannot be reached). You would need an hourly wage higher than the legal minimum to qualify with 32 hours.
What happens if my salary is just € 20 or € 50 below the IND norm?
The IND enforces statutory income thresholds without exceptions. Being just € 5.00 per month below the norm results in automatic application rejection. You should negotiate extra contractual hours or await a salary increase before applying.
Do overtime, bonuses, or a 13th month count towards the IND salary?
A contractual 13th month, structural irregular hours allowances (ORT), and guaranteed fixed commissions count towards your SV-wage. However, incidental or non-guaranteed overtime does not count because the IND considers it non-sustainable.
How do self-employed freelancers (ZZP) or agency workers prove sufficient income?
Freelancers must demonstrate at least 1 full financial year of trading with net profit exceeding the monthly threshold, verified by an accountant. Agency workers in Phase A must submit 36 months of payslips and annual statements to establish sufficient average earnings.
Can personal savings or equity be used if my salary is too low?
Yes, under strict IND conditions. You must have liquid, immediately accessible savings equal to at least 36 times the monthly gross norm (including holiday allowance), which requires at least € 90,862.56 in 2026.
Does my foreign partner's income count towards the IND requirement?
No. For standard MVV partner sponsorship, the IND exclusively evaluates the income of the sponsor residing in the Netherlands. Your partner's foreign earnings, remote work, or job offers cannot be counted.
Can parents or family members act as financial guarantors?
No. Third-party guarantees and parental sponsorships are legally prohibited for long-stay residence permits (MVV). The Dutch sponsor must meet the income threshold independently.
Which norm applies if the IND increases thresholds while processing my application?
The IND strictly evaluates applications against the norm amount in effect on the date of official receipt. Subsequent semi-annual increases do not affect previously submitted complete applications.
When is a sponsor completely exempt from the IND income requirement?
You are exempt if you have reached the AOW retirement age, receive an IVA permanent disability benefit, or if your partner qualifies under the European Chavez-Vilchez doctrine as the caregiver of a Dutch minor child.
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